Washington: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the complexities of ongoing military operations against Iran, asserting that while these efforts will not be "endless," they also cannot be resolved "overnight." Speaking at a press conference with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Hegseth referred to the conflict as a "big battle space," reflecting the challenging nature of the mission.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the remarks came after a coordinated U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran, initiated on Saturday, resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The U.S. has reported four combat fatalities, whereas the Iranian Red Crescent indicated that 555 individuals have died in Iran due to the conflict.

Hegseth emphasized that the current operations differ from past conflicts such as those in Iraq, describing the mission as "clear, devastating, decisive" with goals to "destroy the missile threat" and the Iranian Navy, while preventing nuclear capabilities. He criticized Iran's "nuclear blackmail ambitions" and highlighted the strategic approach of targeting operational capabilities over prolonged engagement.

He further noted that President Donald Trump dictates the operational pace, aiming for control over southern airspace to neutralize threats. Hegseth stated, "We have the kind of exquisite intelligence to get over the top, find that and destroy it. (It) won't happen overnight."

Gen. Caine described the mission as a "major combat operation," acknowledging the time and effort required to achieve military objectives set by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Joint Force. He cautioned about potential additional U.S. losses, underscoring efforts to minimize them as the operation progresses.